According to The New York Times, citing multiple senior U.S. officials, President Donald Trump has recently been briefed on new options for direct military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Kabul 24: These options primarily target elements of the regime’s security and military apparatus that have been directly responsible for suppressing ongoing public protests.
Trump has not yet issued a final order, but sources close to the White House indicate that he is pursuing the matter with great seriousness and carefully weighing all aspects.
One senior Pentagon official told the newspaper that several of the proposed plans involve targeted strikes on institutions and commanders involved in the killing and repression of demonstrators.
A high-ranking U.S. general stationed in the Middle East stressed that American forces would require additional time before any potential operation to strengthen positions at regional bases, bolster air defense systems, and prepare for possible retaliatory attacks from Iran.
He warned that launching strikes without this preparation could impose heavy costs on U.S. personnel.U.S. officials expressed clear concern that military action against Iran could backfire dramatically.
According to them, such strikes might ignite nationalist sentiments inside Iran, temporarily rallying ordinary citizens—who are currently opposed to the government—around the regime and partially restoring its domestic legitimacy, which has been severely weakened in recent times.
The greater risk, however, lies in Iran’s potential retaliation. Officials noted that Tehran is unlikely to engage in direct confrontation with U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf and would instead opt for asymmetric responses, including missile and drone attacks on American bases in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and the UAE, or even targeting regional oil facilities and the Strait of Hormuz.
This scenario could endanger the lives of thousands of U.S. troops and diplomats while causing an unprecedented spike in global energy prices.
Overall, Trump’s final decision remains pending, with a clear internal tension between his personal desire to project strength and the grave warnings from military and intelligence advisors about the far-reaching consequences of any escalation.
